🗓🏌🏽♂️December 2025: the Must-See Competitions on the PGA Tour🏆(updated with the Winners)
- clairebambino
- Dec 3, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: Dec 15, 2025
Last update: December 15, 2025
🏌🏽♂️ Hero World Challenge – December 4-7, 2025 – Albany Golf Course, Albany • Bahamas
This is an unofficial, limited-field event hosted by Tiger Woods. Founded by Tiger Woods and his father, Earl, the tournament debuted in 2000 as the Williams World Challenge. It has served as a benefit event for the TGR Foundation (Tiger Woods Foundation) throughout its history. The event moved to its current location in the Bahamas in 2015.
⛳️ The event takes place at the Albany Golf Course in New Providence, Bahamas. The course was designed by Ernie Els.
The award is referred to simply as the Hero World Challenge Trophy. Its primary representation is one of excellence in an elite invitational field and its direct association with the charitable mission of the TGR Foundation, which the tournament financially supports.
It is an unofficial PGA Tour event, meaning the prize money won by players does not count toward the official money rankings on any major tour, and no FedExCup points are awarded. The field is small (currently 20 players), composed of the defending champion, major winners, and top players from the Official World Golf Ranking.
The tournament is typically one of the final high-profile golf events of the calendar year and grants Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, which adds significance for the elite field.
💰 Purse: $5,000,000
Previous winner (2024): 🇺🇸 Scottie Scheffler ($1,000,000)
🏆 Winner 2025: 🇯🇵 Hideki Matsuyama ($1,000,000) - Age: 33 - Turned Pro in 2013
👉🏼 Hideki Matsuyama claimed victory at the 2025 Hero World Challenge, securing his second title at this prestigious event after previously winning in 2016. The Japanese star triumphed in a dramatic playoff against 🇸🇪 Alex Noren, sinking a clutch putt on the first extra hole to seal the win. This victory marked a remarkable bookend to Matsuyama’s 2025 season, as he had also opened the year with a win at The Sentry in Hawaii in January.
Matsuyama’s performance was particularly notable for his consistency and clutch play under pressure. He entered the final round trailing by three strokes but surged ahead with a series of birdies, including a crucial one on the par-4 13th. His playoff victory improved his PGA Tour playoff record to an impressive five wins in six attempts. Matsuyama’s relationship with Tiger Woods also added a special touch to the moment, as he celebrated with Woods on the 18th green, a scene reminiscent of his 2016 victory.
💡 Did you know that...
💪🏽Early Prodigy: Matsuyama was a standout amateur, winning the Asian Amateur Championship in 2010 and 2011, which earned him invitations to the Masters Tournament. He turned professional in 2013 and quickly established himself as a top player on the PGA Tour.
🥉 Olympic Medalist: Matsuyama represented Japan in the Olympic golf competition at both the Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021) and Paris 2024 Games. At Tokyo 2020, he finished tied for third place, but due to a playoff for the bronze medal, he ultimately placed fourth. In Paris 2024, Matsuyama secured the bronze medal, finishing just two strokes behind gold medalist Scottie Scheffler and one stroke behind silver medalist Tommy Fleetwood.
🇯🇵 First Japanese Male Major Champion: Matsuyama made history by becoming the first Japanese male golfer to win a major championship, claiming the 2021 Masters Tournament at Augusta National. His victory was celebrated worldwide and inspired a new generation of golfers in Japan.
🟡 Sunday Yellow Tradition: Matsuyama often wears a yellow shirt on Sundays, a nod to his idol, Tiger Woods, who is famous for his red Sunday shirts. This tradition was on full display during his 2025 Hero World Challenge win, where he wore yellow in the final round.
🏆🏆 Hero World Challenge Double Winner: Matsuyama is one of the few players to win the Hero World Challenge twice, first in 2016 and again in 2025. Both victories came in dramatic fashion, with the 2025 win secured in a playoff.
🇺🇸 🏌🏽♂️ PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry – December 11-14, 2025 – Dye's Valley Course, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida • USA
This is the multi-stage qualifying process for securing membership on the professional tours. The Final Stage field consists of players who have survived three prior stages (Pre-Qualifying, First Stage and Second Stage).
PGA TOUR Q-School (Qualifying School) dates back to 1965. It was the primary way to earn a PGA Tour card until 2012. From 2013 to 2022, it only awarded status on the developmental Korn Ferry Tour. Since 2023, the Final Stage has once again awarded a small number of direct PGA Tour cards.
⛳️ The Final Stage will be held at the Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The Dye’s Valley Course was designed by Pete Dye and Bobby Weed.
This is not a traditional tournament and does not award a trophy. The winner of the Final Stage receives Medalist Honors and the highest level of guaranteed status on the PGA Tour for the following season. The event represents the "door" to professional golf, determining players' destinies.
Many famous names, including Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas, used a strong finish at Q-School (or the subsequent Korn Ferry Tour season) as their launching pad to the PGA Tour.
The top 5 finishers at the 2025 Final Stage will earn a PGA Tour card for the 2026 season. In the event of a tie for the fifth and final qualifier, a hole-by-hole playoff will be conducted to determine the final spot(s) - a new procedure for 2025. The next group of finishers earns guaranteed status on the Korn Ferry Tour, and others earn status on the PGA TOUR Americas, making it a pivotal week for hundreds of careers.
💰 Purse: $510,000
Previous winner (2024): 🇺🇸 Lanto Griffin ($50,000)
🏆 Winner 2025: 🇨🇦 A.J. Ewart ($50,000) - Age: 26 - Turned Pro in 2023
👉🏼 A.J. Ewart emerged as the winner of the 2025 PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry, securing his place as the standout performer of the year with a dominant display at TPC Sawgrass and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Ewart topped the leaderboard with a final score of 14-under 266, earning medalist honors thanks to a closing round of 66. This victory granted him a PGA TOUR card for the 2026 season. Ewart’s performance marks a significant turning point in his career. After a challenging 2025 season without a single top-10 finish in 22 events, his Q-School triumph offers him a second chance to compete at the highest level.
💡 Did you know that...
🎓 Ewart was a standout player at the University of Illinois, where he earned All-Big Ten honors and helped lead his team to multiple NCAA Regional appearances. His collegiate success laid the foundation for his professional career.
🏆 He secured his first professional victory on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2023, which temporarily earned him a spot on the PGA TOUR. However, he had to return to Q-School to regain full status.
🎶 Ewart is an avid country music fan and has mentioned that listening to his favorite artists helps him focus before tournaments. He is also known for his mental preparation ritual, which includes daily meditation before each round.
🇺🇸 🏌🏻♀️🏌🏽♂️ Grant Thornton Invitational – December 12-14, 2025 – Tiburón Golf Club, Naples, Florida • USA
🏌🏼♀️🏌🏻 This is a co-sanctioned, mixed-team event between the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour (Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour). The tournament debuted in 2023, replacing the QBE Shootout. It made history as the first co-sanctioned mixed-team event between the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour since 1999, uniting both tours for a single competition. The core mission is to promote gender parity and inclusivity in professional golf.
⛳️ The event is held at the Tiburón Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Florida. The course was designed by Greg Norman.
The unique trophy was designed to symbolize the mission of the event. It features bands of gold and silver that unite and rise from the base, representing the two tours coming together. The shape at the top is an infinite Möbius disc (a fascinating mathematical and geometric shape with a single, continuous surface and only one edge) signifying unity and the promise of a more equal future for the game of golf.
The tournament uses 3 distinct team formats over 3 rounds: Scramble, Foursomes (alternate shot), and a unique Modified Four-Ball format where players switch balls for their second shot. The purse is split equally between the winning male and female team members.
The event features 32 players (16 PGA Tour professionals paired with 16 LPGA Tour stars). The tournament’s promotional logo features a "pair of tees" playing on the word "parity" to emphasize their commitment to equality.
💰 Purse: equal prize money of $4,000,000
Previous winners (2024): 🇺🇸 Jake Knapp ($500,000) & 🇹🇭 Patty Tavatanakit ($500,000)
🏆 Winners 2025:
🇺🇸Andrew Novak ($500,000) - Age: 30 - Turned Pro in 2017 &🇺🇸Lauren Coughlin ($500,000) - Age: 33 - Turned Pro in 2016
👉🏼 Andrew Novak and Lauren Coughlin emerged as the victorious duo at the 2025 Grant Thornton Invitational. The pair dominated the mixed-team event, finishing with a record-setting 28-under-par total after a stellar final round of 9-under 63 in the modified fourball format. Their performance earned them the $1 million winner’s share from the event’s $4 million purse, with each player taking home $500,000 - the largest payday of their careers to date.
Novak and Coughlin’s chemistry was evident throughout the tournament, as they offset a rare double bogey with a crucial eagle to maintain their lead.
💡 Did you know that...
Their win highlights their growing reputation for success in team events: Novak previously teamed with Ben Griffin to win the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA TOUR’s only official team event, while Coughlin has established herself as a consistent performer on the LPGA Tour, with two victories in 2024 (the Scottish Open and CPKC Women’s Open) and over $1 million in official earnings in 2025.
🏌🏼♀️ Coughlin’s 2024 season was a breakout year, with two LPGA victories and a career-best finish at the Amundi Evian Championship, where she earned her largest paycheck to date ($410,626). Her success at the Grant Thornton Invitational further cements her status as one of the rising stars on the LPGA Tour.
🧘🏼♀️ Coughlin is known for her love of fitness and wellness. She often shares her workout routines and healthy lifestyle tips on social media, inspiring fans to stay active both on and off the course.
🏌🏻 Novak’s path to the PGA TOUR was not an overnight success. He began his professional career on minor league tours, grinding his way through the ranks before earning his PGA TOUR card. His perseverance and ability to adapt to different levels of competition highlight his dedication to the sport and his relentless work ethic.
🏆 Novak’s victory at the 2025 Zurich Classic of New Orleans marked his first PGA TOUR win, a milestone in his career. This win not only showcased his talent but also demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure in a high-stakes team environment. It was a defining moment that propelled him further into the spotlight.
